Overview of the ACCUS

Overview of the ACCUS

What is the American Catholic Church in the United States?

The American Catholic Church in the United States affirms traditional Catholic beliefs of faith and love, spirituality, community and prayer. It celebrates the seven sacraments and adheres to the essential Catholic doctrine and practice as expressed and implied in the statements of Vatican Council II, and in the light of the best contemporary thought.The American Catholic Church in the United States proclaims the unconditional love and compassion of God, which embraces every human person regardless of their state or condition in life. We acknowledge the primacy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to speak in our day through the “sensus fidelium” (“sense of the faithful”) of the Catholic Church, leading to a world of justice and peace.The American Catholic Church in the United States…Inclusive:The American Catholic Church in the United States seeks to reach those who may have felt alienated by their prior church experiences. We believe that who a person is and how a person has chosen to live, does not separate them from the love and compassion of God; thus, The American Catholic Church rejects artificial barriers to the reception of the Sacraments based on marital status, sexuality or orientation. In particular, we place no artificial barriers in the way of the reception of Baptism, when a parent sincerely desires that their child be received into the Mystical Body of Christ.

Proactive:Believing that the Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church through “Sense of the Faithful”, The American Catholic Church in the United States sees itself as a process as well as an institution. We hope to listen to, rather than speak for, the people of God; as prompted by the Spirit, as they seek ways to remake the Church into a creditable community of faith for the modern world.The American Catholic Church in the United States is particularly sensitive to the voices of those who having been felt called to Catholic ministry, have found their way blocked by a blanket of requirements for celibacy. We are therefore committed to the admission of married persons to all ranks of the clergy.Compassionate:The difficult decisions in one’s life are always harder to make alone. At such times, the compassionate support of a community of faith can be crucial. Yet such support can be difficult to find the face of “legalistic” moral pronouncement regarding the issues of divorce and remarriage, birth control, sexual orientation and complex medical issues.

Morality ought to be our response to the life of the spirit within each human person, and a loving way of life for the whole community. The American Catholic Church in the United States believes that an informed conscience, molded on Gospel values of truth, justice, compassion and love, should be the ultimate motivating force in a person’s life. We teach these values with the individual person in mind and with respect for the individual human freedom and dignity. We trust that, if people are living in the spirit of truth, they will be able to decide what is just and right, both in their own lives and within society.If these qualities speak to you, then we invite you to consider The American Catholic Church in the United States as your community of faith.